The time is too shortBut never too longTo reach aheadTo project the imageWhich will in time become a concrete dreamAnother cigaretteAnother dayFrom A to BAgain avoiding C, D, and E'Cause E is where you play the bluesAvoiding a deathIs to win the gameTo avoid relegationThe big E

Drowning in the big swimRising to the surfaceThe smell of youThat's the lowdown

Yu Guangzhong 余光中, the great poet of the Chinese diaspora who spent most of his life in Taiwan, has passed away. Here is perhaps his best known poem (to his chagrin), “Nostalgia” 鄉愁 - in his own handwriting, alongside my quick translation. Safe travels.